What Others Write About Belarus – 8 November 2026

In brief

• Deutsche Welle writes that the dispute within the Belarusian opposition in exile, involving Sviatlana and Siarhei Tsikhanouski, is weakening the unity of this community; Siarhei Tsikhanouski criticizes the regime, as well as his wife's office and part of the emigré media, and has proposed a joint body of former candidates and protest leaders.
• Ukrainian media, including TSN, report, citing Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, that Belarus plans to spend about $4.32 billion on the military and security apparatus in 2027, or almost 21% of the state budget, with the largest increase going to structures that control society.
• The Lithuanian portal Bernardinai.lt reports that 66-year-old priest Anatolijus Parachnevičius was sentenced in Belarus to three years in prison; the case was heard by a court in Vileyka behind closed doors, and the charges concerned insulting the authorities and extremist activity.
• According to the Russian state-controlled Vesti.ru, Lukashenka expressed support for journalists taking part in the Fifth Wood Chopping Championship, and the video was distributed by the Telegram channel "Pul pierwawo".
• Vesti.ru also reports that Lukashenka expressed condolences to the Polish nation over the attack in Kraków, in which six people died, and called on people to take in homeless kittens; these materials were also distributed by the channel "Pul Pierwogo".

German press

The German service Deutsche Welle writes that the dispute within the Belarusian opposition in exile, involving Sviatlana and Siarhei Tsikhanouski, is weakening the unity of this community (Białoruś: Spór Cichanouskich niszczy jedność emigracji – Deutsche Welle). According to Deutsche Welle, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, after regaining his freedom in June 2025 and being deported from Belarus, criticizes Lukashenka's regime in his YouTube videos, but also his wife's office and part of the emigré media, and in his view many Belarusians abroad have become indifferent to politics. Deutsche Welle also reports that he proposed establishing a joint body of former candidates and protest leaders. Ukrainian media, including the portal TSN, report in turn, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that Lukashenka's regime plans to spend about $4.32 billion on the military and security apparatus in 2027, which is linked to deepening repression against society (Лукашенко нарощує фінансування силовиків: розвідка назвала суми на 2027 рік – TSN).

Ukrainian press

Ukrainian media, for example the portal TSN, report, based on information from Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, that the Belarusian regime plans to spend about $4.32 billion on defense and the security apparatus in 2027, which constitutes almost 21% of state budget expenditures. TSN reports that defense spending is to increase by 15%, and $2.54 billion has been allocated for courts, law enforcement and security, which is 11.5% more than a year earlier. According to the same source, the largest increase in funds is to go to structures that control society, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs or state security bodies.

Lithuanian press

According to the Lithuanian portal Bernardinai.lt, 66-year-old priest Anatolijus Parachnevičius was sentenced in Belarus to three years of imprisonment. The portal reports that the parish in Alkavičy in the northwest of the country was secretly detained in March by masked men who may belong to Belarusian security services. Bernardinai.lt writes that the verdict was issued by a district court in Vileyka, which heard the case behind closed doors, and the priest was charged with insulting the authorities and extremist activity, although the authorities did not disclose the full motives for the verdict. (Baltarusijoje kunigas nuteistas trejų metų kalėjimo bausme – Bernardinai.lt)

Russian press

According to Vesti.ru (propaganda media), a Russian state-controlled service, Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenka expressed support for journalists taking part in the Fifth Wood Chopping Championship, and the video of this event was distributed by the Telegram channel "Pul pierwawo", close to the president's press service. Kremlin propaganda on Vesti.ru (propaganda media) presents Lukashenka chopping wood and signing an axe that is to become the main trophy of the competition, which the portal describes as a gesture of tribute to the media (Лукашенко оставил автограф на топоре для победителя чемпионата СМИ по колке дров – Wiesti.ru (media propagandowe)).

According to Vesti.ru (propaganda media), a Russian state-controlled portal, Kremlin propaganda presents a statement by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka, who expressed condolences to the Polish nation over the attack in Kraków, where six people died. According to the same outlet, Lukashenka announced this on Telegram via the channel "Pul Pierwogo", and the message also emphasized support for the victims' families and wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured. The material also reports that Polish prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation, and that a Russian citizen was among the victims. (Лукашенко выразил соболезнования Польше в связи с терактом в Кракове – Wiesti.ru (media propagandowe))

According to Vesti.ru (propaganda media), a Russian state-controlled portal, Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenka appealed to kind-hearted people to take in homeless kittens. Kremlin propaganda on Vesti.ru presents this as a warm gesture, and the footage was published on the Telegram channel "Pul pierwogo". The material shows kittens from the town of Aleksandria in Mogilev region, the home region of Lukashenka. (Лукашенко помог пристроить бездомных котят в добрые руки – Wiesti.ru (media propagandowe))